City of Ars
The leader of the knight squadron walked through a small, deserted square where absolute silence dominated the surroundings. Sensing a presence behind him, he stopped abruptly, crossed his arms, and turned around.
"I didn't expect to see you so soon," he said, fixing his gaze on the hooded man, who remained leaning against the wall with a calm expression.
"So. What did you manage to find out?" he continued, getting straight to the point.
The hooded man slowly raised his eyes before answering.
"The boys you're looking for are named Erick and Louis. Cosmo is protecting them at his base."
"I already know that!" the leader interrupted, visibly irritated. "Stop stating the obvious!"
He took a step forward and grabbed the hooded man by the shoulder, emanating an intimidating pressure with his aura. However, the other man remained impassive, keeping his serene expression.
"However, I discovered their next moves… and their exact locations."
The leader raised an eyebrow, staring at him for a few seconds. He then relaxed his posture and released the hooded man. With a smooth motion, he placed a hand on his chin, clearly impressed.
"You're more useful than I imagined."
Without saying anything else, the leader turned and began to walk away.
"We'll meet again when you have more information. Next time… I expect double," he said, disappearing through the door of a nearby bar.
The hooded man bowed his head slightly.
"As you wish…" he replied, before vanishing without a trace.
***
Two days had passed since Rose and Lilith joined the Paths. For the two sisters, everything was still very new. Lilith had trouble navigating the enormous headquarters, whose corridors seemed to stretch in every direction, forming a real labyrinth. Rose, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable with the oppressive silence that hung over the place, making it difficult to see it as a home.
Sitting near a small garden, they were enjoying a rare moment of rest. The greenery of the plants brought a touch of life to the imposing structure around them, offering a brief refuge from the strangeness they still felt. It was then that they heard a voice calling them.
"Hey, Lilith! Rose!" Erick waved excitedly as he approached.
Rose huffed and rolled her eyes. She stood up without saying a word and walked into the building.
"Hey, wait!" Erick exclaimed, surprised by her reaction.
"Good morning!" said Cosmo, coming from the opposite direction and crossing paths with Rose as she entered the headquarters. He looked at Erick, clearly amused by the situation.
"Looks like someone here doesn't like you very much, kid."
Erick sighed and gave Lilith a tired look as she remained seated.
"Is she always like this?"
Lilith placed a hand on her chin, thoughtful.
"Nee-sama acts like this sometimes… but this is the first time I've seen her react this way to someone, Erick-kun."
Cosmo let out a short laugh and gave Erick a light pat on the shoulder.
"Seems like you're a special case, kid!"
Erick let out a long sigh, looking up at the sky.
"Ahh… I just want to know why she hates me so much…"
***
Later, Erick walked through the long corridors of the headquarters, his body exhausted after an intense training session imposed by Cosmo. As he walked, he spotted Louis and Lilith talking and decided to observe them from a distance. He slowly crept closer to listen.
"I see… so you don't have any feline traits?" Louis asked, curious.
"Yes… unlike Onee-sama, I was born without any feline abilities or characteristics…" she replied, frowning slightly.
"I know what that's like…" Louis looked away, his expression shifting a little.
Lilith looked at him, confused.
"I was born without magic… not even anything that made me special compared to others," Louis explained, his voice trembling. "I can't fight like the others and I'm always being saved by Nii. He always gets hurt because of me… I can never do anything to save him. Even if people say I'm strong, it doesn't change the fact that I'm useless."
"Louis-san…"
"But even so, he believes in me, and the others support me so I don't give up. That's why I can't let them down."
Louis lifted his head with a determined smile.
"You're right…" Lilith replied, returning the smile.
Erick, watching the scene from afar, gave a small smile, his face softening.
"Don't give up, Louis…" he murmured before turning to leave.
However, he ended up bumping into someone on the way. His eyes widened instantly.
"M-Mr. Angel! Sorry!" Erick stammered, frightened upon recognizing the person.
Angel stared at him coldly before grabbing his shoulder. His shadow completely engulfed Erick in a threatening aura.
"If you bump into me again, I'll throw you out the window," he declared coldly, squeezing his shoulder slightly.
Erick shook his head frantically, almost in panic.
"Y-Yes! It won't happen again, I promise!"
Angel released him and headed to his room without looking back. Erick, now alone in the corridor, sighed deeply.
"Why doesn't anyone like me…?" he muttered before heading up the stairs toward the dormitory.
***
Meeting Room
"Today you're heading to Cilvett," Cosmo announced, firmly placing a map on the table.
Erick raised his hand, curiosity clear on his face.
"Captain, what kind of place is that…?"
Cosmo smiled confidently and crossed his arms.
"Good question! Cilvett is a village famous for its imposing magical barriers, capable of repelling any impure being for decades! However…" His expression suddenly turned serious.
"Some time ago, there were more than ten disappearances. One of the residents said they saw an Inverse wandering around the village. That's why I want you to investigate and exorcise the creature," he concluded, leaning back in his chair.
Louis, hesitant, raised his hand.
"But, Captain… isn't it too dangerous for us to go alone…?"
Cosmo let out a light laugh and shook his head.
"Of course it would be! You'd die pretty quickly if you ran into one!"
Louis swallowed hard, eyes wide.
"S-Serious…?"
"Of course! That's why you'll be accompanied by Emily, Mei, and the new recruits!" he said with a wide grin, clearly enjoying the situation.
Rose's eyes widened and she leaned forward, incredulous.
"Wait a minute! Why do I have to go with him?!" she asked, pointing at Erick with irritation.
Cosmo laughed loudly and stood up, placing a hand on Erick's shoulder.
"Because it'll be fun!" he replied, a teasing tone in his voice.
Rose huffed and turned her body away, arms crossed. Louis and Lilith, on the other hand, were desperately trying to hold back their laughter at the scene.
"And don't worry! Mei and I will protect you!" Emily said, pulling Mei closer and nodding.
With the mission assigned, the group set off to the north, heading toward the village of Cilvett.
***
Dark Forest
The group walked through the dense, dark forest that separated Cilvett from Selvitt. The atmosphere was suffocating, with low mist covering the ground and the branches above forming sinister silhouettes.
"What a scary place…" Louis murmured, his voice trembling as he followed the group.
Emily held a map in her hands, frowning as she tried to decipher it.
"Cosmo-chan said the village is around here…" she commented, slightly frustrated.
Unsettling sounds echoed around them, as if the entire forest were alive. Louis stopped when he saw a small rabbit among the bushes. But there was something strange about it… Without thinking twice, he grabbed Erick, shaking with fear.
"Nii! What is that?!"
Erick looked at the animal, confused.
"It's just a little bunny, Louis. There's nothing to worry about."
Louis sighed in relief but kept his eyes fixed on the small animal, still suspicious.
"Ah… o-okay…"
As they advanced, the darkness of the forest grew more oppressive. The cold penetrated their bones and the somber aura intensified with every step.
"This place gives me the creeps…" Rose murmured, swallowing hard.
Feeling the weight of the atmosphere, Erick decided to act. He knelt on the ground and recited his new magic with determination.
"Electric Sense!"
Lightning spread across the ground in multiple directions, sweeping the area.
There was nothing. Only the oppressive silence of the place echoed in his mind.
Then…
Erick felt a stronger concentration of energy coming from the south and, without hesitation, began running in that direction. Mei sensed the same presence and followed him immediately.
"Hey, wait for me!" Emily shouted, running after them.
In their haste, the trio ended up leaving Rose, Louis, and Lilith behind.
"Are you seriously leaving us behind?!" Rose shouted, indignant.
Lilith clung to Louis's arm, trembling.
"I'm scared…"
Louis tried to stay calm, but the feeling of being watched from all directions made him break out in a cold sweat.
"It'll be fine… I think…" he replied, swallowing hard as his eyes scanned the darkness.
***
Village of Cilvett
Erick finally emerged from the forest, out of breath, stopping at the village entrance. Mei was already there, analyzing the situation.
"Finally!"
When he tried to enter the village, Mei stopped him with a serious expression.
"Don't be foolish. You'll die if you try to pass through," she warned, carefully observing the surroundings.
But it was too late.
"I'm here!" Emily shouted, emerging from the other side of the forest and walking straight toward the village entrance.
Before anyone could stop her, all the magical traps were activated at once. Beams of energy, flames, and invisible blades struck her directly. Erick ran toward her in panic.
"Miss Emily!"
But he wasn't fast enough. Emily fell to the ground, her body marked by severe burns and deep cuts. Erick stopped, paralyzed by shock. The villagers came out of their houses armed.
"Intruders!"
"Who are you?!"
Erick fell to his knees, still staring at Emily's fallen body.
"No…"
Suddenly, Emily slowly got up, brushing the dust off her clothes as if nothing had happened.
"Ow… that hurt!" she complained, massaging her shoulder.
"M-Miss Emily…?" Erick murmured, incredulous.
The villagers recoiled in terror.
"She… she's a witch!" they screamed, their voices echoing through the village.
"Calm down, everyone. Leave it to me."
A large man wielding a blade answered, stepping out from the crowd.
"Ah, it's Mr. Sfritz!" one of the villagers replied with shining eyes.
Sfritz advanced on Emily and pierced her stomach with the blade, then pulled it out and pierced her heart with exaggerated elegance.
"See? Problem solved," he declared, flashing a victorious smile.
Emily looked at him, confused.
"You… tried to kill me?"
Sfritz screamed and stepped back, pointing the blade at her with trembling hands.
"H-How?! Y-You witch!!"
When he tried to attack again, he was interrupted by the village chief.
"That's enough, Sfritz."
"Yes, Mr. Krurs…"
Sfritz nodded and slowly retreated, still glaring at Emily with hatred.
"M-Miss Mei… what just happened here?" Erick murmured to Mei, still in shock.
"Exactly what you saw. Miss Emily cannot die, no matter what happens," she replied in a neutral tone.
The leader approached them.
"I apologize for the poor reception…" the leader said, kneeling.
The villagers were stunned by the leader's attitude. Emily approached and gently helped him stand up.
"Don't worry, it's all right," she said with a smile.
The leader nodded and stroked his long beard.
"We haven't properly introduced ourselves yet… I am Krurs Yvens the 3rd, leader of Cilvett."
"I'm Emily Line, Path Nº 2, and these are Mei and Erick-chan."
"Chan…?" Erick murmured, blushing slightly.
Krurs widened his eyes in surprise.
"Paths! You're the ones Cosmo-san mentioned… So I assume you already know why you were summoned here…" Krurs asked, his expression more serious.
"Yes…" Emily nodded.
Erick and Mei exchanged serious glances.
"Please, come with me…" Krurs began walking, with the trio following.
After some time walking, the group arrived at a small house. The walls were covered with posters of missing women. Erick couldn't look away — girls of all ages, kidnapped or perhaps something worse.
"Three days ago, several women started disappearing, one after another…" Krurs said, stroking his beard with a serious expression, never taking his eyes off the trio. "From what the residents say, only attractive women are being taken. This is causing immense panic in Cilvett…"
Emily placed her hand on the table, thoughtful.
"Cilvett is a place with high runic energy concentration… So why are only girls disappearing? That doesn't make sense…"
Erick frowned, clearly worried. The situation seemed more serious than he had imagined. Mei, on the other hand, remained expressionless as usual.
"How does Miss Mei manage to stay so calm?" he thought, sighing.
"My daughter disappeared a day ago… But in her last letters, she mentioned seeing something — a shadow," Krurs revealed, his voice full of pain.
"Shadow…" Erick murmured, lost in thought.
"Well…" Mei stood up and walked over to Emily. "Perhaps the rumors about this 'Inverse' are connected to the disappearances."
Emily nodded and looked at Krurs.
"Don't worry, we'll find him and put an end to this," she said confidently with a slight smile.
Krurs remained silent for a second before his expression softened completely.
"Thank you… once again, truly."
He gave a small nod before leaving, leaving the trio alone.
***
When night fell, the group gathered around the table, now covered with notes and posters. Emily was taking notes while Mei drew patterns of the disappearances. Erick, thoughtful, observed the two.
"Miss Mei and Miss Emily are so strange sometimes… But when things get serious, they change completely."
"Mm, Erick-chan?"
Emily's voice brought him back to reality. She was right in front of him, her face just inches away, staring at him intently.
Erick quickly looked away, his face blushing slightly.
"M-Miss Emily?!"
"You've been watching us this whole time. What were you thinking about, huh~?" Emily asked with a mischievous smile.
"N-nothing! I was just thinking about how to finish this mission!"
"Hmm, I see…" She narrowed her eyes with a smile, clearly suspicious.
Mei interrupted them by placing her notes on the table.
"So far we have this: an Inverse called 'Shadow' is capturing attractive women every night. What's the plan?"
"Any ideas, Erick-chan?" Emily and Mei stared at him, waiting for an answer.
Erick scratched the back of his neck, hesitant.
"W-well… Since he only captures attractive women, why don't we use one as bait?"
The two exchanged surprised looks before Emily opened a smile.
"What a great idea!" she exclaimed, hugging Erick. "Mei, you'd be perfect!"
"What? Why me? You're attractive too!" Mei retorted, crossing her arms.
The two began arguing until they stopped and, simultaneously, turned to Erick.
"Which one of us is better for this?!"
"W-well… uh…"
Before Erick could answer, the door burst open. Rose, Lilith, and Louis entered, covered in branches and leaves.
"We finally made it out of that forest! I'm exhausted!" Rose complained, leaning against the wall.
Mei and Emily exchanged mischievous glances before smiling.
"I think we found our solution."
"W-why are you looking at me like that?!" Rose asked, stepping back in alarm.
***
Later, at midnight, in the center of the village, Rose was tied to the fountain. The pale moonlight illuminated the area while a thin mist snaked across the ground. The soft sound of running water echoed in the night's silence, creating an unsettling contrast with the situation.
"I can't believe you did this to me!" Rose shouted into the emptiness. "Ugh… at least it can't get any worse…"
Before she could finish, a dense mist enveloped the area. A shadow began to form around her.
"W-what is that…?" Her voice trembled with fear.
"What a beauty you are…" a voice whispered in her ear, making Rose shiver.
"W-who are you?! Stop touching me!" Rose struggled to free herself, but it was useless.
"I am what you call… Ah, yes, an Inverse," he said, smiling as he held her waist.
"I-it can't be… Inverses are irrational monsters! How can you speak?!"
"It seems you still have a lot to learn about the world…" he replied, holding Rose's face. "Now, you will be the most precious trophy in my collection…"
He leaned toward her lips, but suddenly his body froze. He tried to move, but he was paralyzed.
"What the hell is this?!" he shouted, furious.
Rose smiled, now confident.
"Looks like you fell right into our trap."
"You…! What did you do to me?!"
Before he could continue, a wave of energy blasted him away. He tried to recover, but was surrounded.
"Rose, are you okay?!" Erick ran to untie her.
"Tch… You're all going to pay for this later," Rose said, crossing her arms, clearly irritated.
The shadow, now cornered, looked around for an escape.
"Give up. There's nowhere to run," Mei said, pointing her dagger directly at him with a cold gaze.
An even denser mist began to form, and the figure climbed a wall, trying to escape upward.
"Don't let him escape!" Emily shouted, her voice cutting through the night's silence.
Mei advanced, trying to grab him, but her hand passed through the enemy's body — it was just an illusion. The real enemy was already in the air, leaping before landing on the rooftops and beginning his escape.
"Be useful, Erick!"
Mei's voice echoed in Erick's mind like a call. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, sweat dripping from his forehead as he began chanting the spell.
"Electric Lance!"
A bright spear of electricity formed in his hands. With a quick motion, he hurled it at the fleeing shadow. The attack was precise, striking the enemy squarely and knocking him to the ground with a resounding impact. However, Erick nearly lost his balance, drained of energy. Before he could fall, Louis appeared just in time to catch him.
"Are you okay, Nii?" Louis asked, concern evident.
"Yeah… just… exhausted…" Erick replied, leaning on his brother while holding his head.
On the ground, the shadow struggled to get up, its movements slow and unsteady. It stared at Emily and Mei as they cautiously approached.
The mist around them began to dissipate. The moonlight now shone brightly, slowly revealing the face hidden in the darkness.
"Damn it…"
"I-it can't be…" Erick murmured, his face turning pale. "M-Mr. Sfritz?!"
The man on the ground stood up with difficulty, a twisted smile on his lips, his eyes shining with a mix of insanity and pleasure.
"Yes, it's me…" Sfritz replied, his voice carrying a sinister tone as he showed teeth as sharp as blades. "Looks like I've been discovered…"
The atmosphere was heavy, the tension in the air almost palpable. No one could process what they were seeing. The mist, which had dissipated momentarily, began to return, covering the ground in a thick layer of darkness. Sfritz's body, in turn, was swallowed by black and purple shadows that writhed like hungry serpents, enveloping him threateningly. His transformation was undeniable — he was no longer human.
The moonlight pierced through the shadows, illuminating Sfritz's distorted figure, now wrapped in a malignant and unrecognizable aura.
The group was surrounded. Erick could feel the imminent danger intensifying with every second. The air was charged with the threat of a battle that could decide everyone's fate.